Accessibility Variety Hour

A Fundraiser Celebrating 13 Years of Cultural Access Collaborative!

Current and former members of the board and Steering Committee pose in front of a bull statue smiling at the camera.

Event Description: Join the Cultural Access Collab for our annual fall fundraiser! The Accessibility Variety Hour will be an evening of stand-up comedy, magic, and poetry, performed entirely by disabled artists and emceed by comedian Brad Klein.

Can’t afford the ticket, but want to support the collab? Contact our event producer, Mikaela at mmcparlan@culturalaccesscollab.org

Can’t make it on October 2nd? You can still be part of A Variety Hour. Every gift, big or small, helps make Illinois’ cultural spaces more accessible. Give now, and we’ll make sure you feel the night from wherever you are. Donate by visiting bit.ly/avhCACdonate

This event has ended.

Guests stand out in the courtyard chatting and getting food. Brad, Magic Morgan, Liliana, and Tsehaye all smile at the camera making magic hands.Brad stands in front of a mic in a suit, signing and speaking to the audience.Brad stands in front of the audience posing his arms like a clock. An ASL Interpreter stands to the side. Liliana holds a baby photo up in front of the audience with a knowing look on her face. Liliana smiles at the camera fanning herself with her hand comedically. Magic Morgan stands in front of the audience as an audience member speaks.Magic Morgan holds a stack of cards with his arms open making a big smile at the audience.Tsehaye stands in front of a microphone and podium speaking and pointing to the right. Tsehaye stands in front of a mic and podium speaking with her hands in the air.Christena stands in front of a mic smiling off to the side.Chris stands in front of a microphone speaking to the audience.   Guests stand with drinks chatting out in the courtyard.  SC Members Daria, Mikaela, and Lauren pose in the photo booth with CAC logo props smiling.Current and former members of the board and Steering Committee pose in front of a bull statue smiling at the camera.

 

 

Archived Event Speakers

Hosted by Brad Klein

Brad is a proud CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). He performs comedy in English and American Sign Language (ASL), all about growing up in both the Deaf & Hearing communities. Brad has performed all over the world, including Laugh Factory, Comix Roadhouse, and the Floodwater Comedy Festival. His funny videos with his Deaf parents have generated millions of views online. Fun fact, Brad’s childhood dream was to own a s’mores factory so he could eat them whenever he wanted.

Magic by Magic Morgan & Liliana

Photo of Magic Morgan & Lilian posing in a spotlight with cards flying around them.

Matthew ‘Magic’ Morgan – The Deaf Magician Who’s Performed Worldwide!
Matthew “Magic” Morgan’s love for magic started at age six when his grandfather—a former carnival performer—taught him a simple coin trick. That small moment sparked a passion that would take him across the globe!

Liliana Morgan, a Stunning Fusion of Dance, Culture & Illusion!
Born in Russia, Liliana Morgan has captivated audiences across Europe with her breathtaking blend of magic, dance, and cultural artistry. Lilana’s love for magic began in her twenties, and she quickly became a rising star in the world of illusion.

Storytelling by Tsehaye Geralyn Hébert

a photo of Tsehaye on a black background smiling to the right, wearing classes and a sleeveless black shirt.

Tsehaye Geralyn Hébert is the first person with a disability, the first senior citizen, and the first
African American woman to win the prestigious Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwright
Award. The nationally acclaimed citizen playwright and cultural architect is a Sundance Playwright
Lab and Frank McCourt award finalists. She is a 3Arts Body of Work Fellow and Vermont
Studio/Voices Rising Fellow. Guild Literary Complex named her one of its 30 Writers to Watch.
A graduate of Northwestern University (BS) and the School of the Art Institute (MFAW), Hébert
envisions inclusion and accessibility beyond ADA compliance—rooted in full authenticity. Her
civic engagement includes Community Lead for the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Accessible
and Inclusive Theatre IPRO and collaborating with Artists Design the Future on housing. She
was recently a member of Cultural Access Collaborative, served as a Disability Lead Fellow and
ambassador, is a former president of the African American Arts Alliance, and is an honorary
board member of Piven Theatre Workshop. In 2026, she joined the board of Open World Design
and co-chaired the Heritage Museum of Asian Art’s 2026 Gala. She also volunteers as an audio
describer-in-training for Needles and Threads Quilters Guild and other organizations.